Superfast broadband rollout in Wales making 'excellent progress'

The rollout of superfast broadband in Wales has reached Neath Port Talbot.

Engineers from BT’s local network business are working in every telephone exchange area in Neath Port Talbot to connect premises to faster speeds.

The area’s first fibre street cabinets have already started going live, enabling residents to access broadband speeds of 24Mbps or more.

Superfast Cymru, a partnership between the Welsh Government, UK Government, the European Regional Development Fund and BT, aims to bring superfast broadband to areas not covered by commercial rollouts.

Deputy minister for skills and technology Julie James said the latest communities to benefit from the work are Skewen and Resolven.

“This is good news for Neath Port Talbot as work is now taking place across the local authority, bringing superfast broadband to premises in every exchange area.

“The Superfast Cymru programme is making excellent progress in bringing fast fibre across Wales, often in difficult and challenging conditions.

“The programme also highlights the benefits of European funding to Wales and is an example of how this funding is making a real difference on the ground.”

Ed Hunt, Superfast Cymru programme director for BT, said the rollout had reached more than 75% of the local authority.

'Well on its way'

“Now that the network is well on its way to being completed I would urge homes and businesses to place their order with an internet service provider so that they can start taking advantage of these new superfast speeds,” he said.

So far, more than 425,000 homes and businesses have access to fibre broadband in Wales as a result of the Superfast Cymru programme.

A total of £205m of funding has been provided by the Welsh Government, the UK government and the European Regional Development Fund.

BT has contributed a further £220m to deliver fibre across Wales via its commercial rollout and the Superfast Cymru programme.

Households and businesses in Tenby joined nearby Haverfordwest, Johnston, Milford Haven, Neyland, Pembroke and Saundersfoot, who already had access to fibre broadband as part of the Superfast Cymru programme.

The rollout reached Tenby a week after the Welsh Government announced the launch of the Superfast Infill Project, which is intended to address premises across Wales that previously wouldn't have access to superfast broadband by 2016.